Facile Resolution of Racemic 4-Phenyl-2-hydroxy Butyrate via Enzymatic Esterification and Transesterification

The optically active R-4-phenyl-2-hydroxy butyrates were prepared by esterification of the racemic acid or transesterification of the racemic ester catalyzed by lipase from Candida cyclindra (CCL) in organic media.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Agmatine by Immobilized Escherichia coli Cells with Arginine Decarboxylase Activity

A new method for the enzymatic synthesis of agmatine by immobilized Escherichia coli cells with arginine decarboxylase（ADC） activity was established and a series of optimal reaction conditions was set down. The arginine decarboxylase showed the maximum activity when the pyridoxal phosphate（PLP） concentration was 50 mmol/L, pH=7 and 45 °C. The arginine decarboxylase exhibited the maximum production efficiency when the substrate concentration was 100 mmol/L and the reaction time was 15 h. It was also observed that the appropriate concentration of Mg2＋, especially at 0.5 mmol/L promoted the arginine decarboxylase activity; Mn2＋ had little effect on the arginine decarboxylase activity. The inhibition of Cu2＋ and Zn2＋ to the arginine decarboxylase activity was significant. The immobilized cells were continuously used 6 times and the average conversion rate during the six-time usage was 55.6%. The immobilized cells exhibited favourable operational stability. After optimization, the maximally cumulative amount of agmatine could be up to 20 g/L. In addition, this method can also catalyze D,L-arginine to agmatine, leaving the pure optically D-arginine simultaneously. The method has a very important guiding significance to the enzymatic preparation of agmatine.

Highly selective kinetic resolution of D/L-syn-p-sulfone phenylserine catalyzed by D-threonine aldolase in two-phase ionic solvent

In the chemical synthesis of L-syn-p-methylsulfoxide phenylserine ethyl ester(D-ethyl ester),L-tartaric acid or enzymatic resolution is employed to resolve the racemate,and thus obtain the target compound,and the remaining isomer can be recycled to obtain the raw material.In this study,high-purity L-syn-p-methylsulfoxide phenylserine(L-syn-MPS)was obtained.The kinetics of the D-threonine aldolase enzymatic hydrolysis reaction reveals that D-syn-p-sulfoxylphenylserine resolves well in[BMIM][BF 4]ionic solvents.The D/L-syn-MPS racemate was resolved using a two-phase ionic solvent[BMIM][NTf 2]to afford L-syn-MPS(ee(enantiomeric excess)>99%)and a white solid in 41.7%yield.Therefore,this system is suitable for the separation of insoluble aldehydes and successfully avoids the condensation of hydroxyl aldehydes to form D-anti-MPS.

Preparation of Optically Active Alkoxy-serines from Amino-amide Racemate Catalyzed by Escherichia coli Cells with Peptidase B Activity

Alkoxy-L-serines are useful for peptide syntheses. The demand for alkoxy-L-serines in the pharmaceutical industries continues to increase because of their multiple physiological effects. In this research, an improved method for alkoxy-L-serines synthesis is reported. A series of substrates, DL-fl-alkoxy-a-amino propionamides, was used for the synthesis of alkoxy-serines catalyzed by Escherichia coli cells with peptidase B（PepB） activity. The results show that PepB has a high resolution activity with DL-fl-alkoxy-a-amino propionamides as substrate. Reaction conditions were optimized, i.e., DL-β-methoxy-a-amino propionamide as substrate at pH=9.0, 40 ℃ and 14 h, and the optimal reaction concentration is 400 mmol/L. The results also show that divalent metal cations exhibit different effects on the PepB activity, for example, Zn2＋ and Cu2＋ can obviously inhibit the activity of PepB, whereas Co2＋, Ca2＋, Mn〉 and Mg2＋ at low concentrations can activate PepB. This research provides access to enantiomerically enriched and valuable alkoxy-L-serines from a simple amino-amide racemate.